Qb Or Not Qb Jim Jensen Has Made A Career With Dolphins As A Player In A Position To Be Named Later

July 23, 1987|By BOB HILL, Staff Writer

MIAMI -- Dolphins practice was moments away from beginning Wednesday afternoon and team handyman Jim Jensen was making his way onto the field.

``Another day, another dollar. Huh, Jim?`` a fan shouted.

``Another day, another position,`` replied Jensen, who played quarterback during Wednesday`s morning drills, wide receiver in the afternoon, and would probably have filmed practice if coach Don Shula asked.

The league`s coaches, players and the player`s union want larger rosters as part of the collective bargaining agreement talks. It would seem the only people against expanding NFL team rosters from 45 to 49 players this year are the owners and Jensen.

The return of the 49-man roster would create a number of options for Shula and more opportunities for players such as rookie quarterback Jim Karsatos, free-agent wide receiver Fred Banks and any one of a number of promising defensive backs.

For Jensen, roster expansion would be like opening Pandora`s Box. In Jensen`s world, less is definitely more; the less players available, the more he is needed.

``I would like it to stay at 45,`` Jensen said. ``You can be sure of that.``

Jensen`s greatest asset has always been his versatility. He can play quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, running back and special teams. To the Dolphins, he`s Mr. 911, the guy they call in an emergency.

``He`s about as versatile as any back or small player I know who`s been in the league for some time,`` Shula said.

Jensen`s calling card has always been his willingness to do whatever it is the Dolphins want. That`s why he`s been here since 1981 and that`s why he`s one of a handful of veterans who have been in camp and practicing all week.

``(Assistant head coach) David Shula talked to me after minicamp. He said he was pleased with the way I played during the camp,`` Jensen said. ``I didn`t get a lot of work at quarterback then and he wanted me to report early so I could. I had no qualms about that. I enjoy the work. I enjoy the different things I do. It breaks up the monotony of practice and keeps me on top of things.

``I don`t ever get bored or frustrated with my job because I enjoy my job. If I do get the opportunity to start, I`ll be ready. I have to be.``

To that end, he spent Wednesday morning working at quarterback. He didn`t look great, but he didn`t look bad, either. ``I feel real good. I feel comfortable,`` he said. ``My timing is a little off. That will come. I`m pleased. It`s good to be back to tell you the truth. It`s a long offseason. Getting back into it is OK with me. The new stadium has created some excitement. You can already feel it in practice. Everybody`s a little more excited.

``I think we are going to be so improved as a team this year. Our defense is really going to come on really strong. We`ve got a new defensive coordinator (Tom Olivadotti). We`ve got a big, strong lineman (John Bosa). I really think the defense is going to be good. And the offense, well, that`s fine.``

So`s Jensen. Jensen has been staving off the job vultures ever since his rookie year when he was drafted in the 11th round as a quarterback. The Dolphins took another quarterback, Brad Wright, in the fourth round. ``It didn`t look good for me right from the start,`` Jensen said.

Jensen made it then as the third-string quarterback because he could do more than Wright. For much the same reasons, he has since thwarted challenges from quarterbacks Dean May in 1984 and Jeff Wickersham last year. Now he has Karsatos to overcome.

The prospect of having to protect his job once again worries Jensen little.

``The only way I see myself losing my job is to someone like Wickersham,`` he said. ``He was willing to run downfield on punts and cover kickoffs, and he did a good job. He was also a good quarterback. My staying on the team makes me feel the coaches respect my ability and the things I can do. When Karsatos starts running down on punts or kickoffs, then I`ll get worried.``

Yet he is here early. ``Even if there was no one else in to push me I`d still have to prove myself,`` Jensen said. ``I don`t take anything for granted. That`s my work ethic.``

For the time being, Jensen can consider himself the back-up quarterback to Dan Marino. Longtime back-up Don Strock is in the midst of another holdout. Strock is unsigned but said he plans on returning, but you can be sure if he`s coming back, it will be at the last possible moment.

``Don doesn`t like to be in training camp, everyone knows that,`` Jensen said. ``This is nothing new. He`ll probably sign before the first week of the season and he`ll be ready to go when he does. He`s been around long enough to know what to do.

``If he doesn`t come back, it will be an opportunity for me to move up. I know I can do the job. I`ve always felt that way ever since my rookie year. I haven`t had a chance to play or the opportunity to prove myself. Preseason is always the biggest chance for me to prove myself.``

Jensen has already proved himself far beyond his dreams. Jensen never imagined he`d play in the NFL. Baseball was his first passion. If he wasn`t playing football, he`d probably be back home in Doylestown, Pa., working for his brother`s tree and landscaping business.

``I help him out during the offseason nowadays,`` Jensen said. ``I don`t mind the manual labor. It`s just our style, I guess.``